By Christiana SchmitzThe Daily Northwestern
Student groups accustomed to gathering at the couches on the first floor of Norris University Center will now find plastic sheets and temporary doors blocking the way.
Their familiar meeting place has been gutted this week as construction begins on Starbucks and a new student lounge.
Beginning January 2007, students can order mochas and lattes over the counter that once safeguarded student group mailboxes and files. Construction crews plan to replace the computer lab with a fireplace and install a flat-screen TV in addition to new tables and chairs.
According to Rick Thomas, Norris Executive Director, everything is running on schedule.
“We’re one week into the construction process,” Thomas said. “Our main plan for the first week was demolition.”
With the demolition complete, the construction crew will begin bringing in Starbucks’ equipment, Thomas said.
“As we move into this week there will be construction in the lounge,” he said.
The Norris Information Desk has been moved to the north wall of the entrance room, along with student group files and Norris’ daily schedule.
“Right now it sucks because we’re so cramped,” said Lindsey Schott, a Communication sophomore who works at the desk.
Schott said the desk’s new location did not have room for student group mailboxes and sits in the path of a cold draft from the front doors. She and the other desk workers didn’t find out about the construction until they came to work, she said.
“We got the information sparingly and haphazardly,” she said. “I wish they’d tell us what’s going on so we can tell everyone else.”
The Dell computer lounge has been permanently moved to the Game Room. Schott said she received no information about when the computers will be up and running again, making it difficult to answer students’ questions about the location change.
Schott said she thinks the success of the Norris Starbucks depends upon how students use it.
“It’s kind of silly because I don’t think people will come to Norris for the purpose of lounging anyway,” she said.
Thomas said Norris will host a formal grand opening when students return to the campus after Winter Break to celebrate the project’s completion.
“We haven’t fully determined how (the grand opening) will play out yet,” he said.
Reach Christiana Schmitz at [email protected].
